Lewis Gonzalez had a WSOF lightweight title fight in his grasp once before, and he isn’t about to let it slip through the cracks again.

Gonzalez was originally scheduled to meet reigning 155-pound champion Justin Gaethje in January, but an undisclosed injury forced him out of the contest. It was a difficult decision to withdraw, mainly because it’s always difficult to predict if, or when, another chance to compete for a world championship will come around.

Gonzalez (9-0) thinks a strong showing at against Luis Palomino (22-9) at WSOF 12 will be just what the doctor ordered.

“I was supposed to fight back in January for the title, but then I came down with an injury,” Gonzalez told MMAjunkie. “A good performance, hopefully (I get a title shot). Melvin (Guillard) is getting the next shot, but hopefully the winner of this fight gets the winner of that fight.”

If Gonzalez is going to make a case for a championship fight, there are few platforms better than a main event slot. He’ll meet Palomino in the NBC Sports Network-televised headliner of the Aug. 9 event from Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The main card airs following prelims streamed on MMAjunkie.

Even though Palomino has fought more notable competition and will bring more than three times the amount of experience to the cage, Gonzalez says he isn’t flustered by the discrepancy on paper.

“(His experience) doesn’t concern me at all,” Gonzalez said. “I fought Antonio McKee (in my last fight) and he had way more experience. He’s been everywhere. It’s another fight to showcase myself and show I can compete with the world’s best.”

Palomino’s experience may be a factor, but Gonzalez thinks it won’t matter unless “Baboon” can compete to his strengths. If all goes according to plan, Gonzalez says he won’t allow that to happen, especially because he feels he possesses a more versatile skillset.

“He seems like he wants to stand in there and trade,” Gonzalez said. “That’s fine, too. But I feel like I’ve got a very noticeable edge on the ground. I think I’m the more technical striker on my feet and he just wants to stand there and trade.”

After nearly one year away from the cage nursing injuries, Gonzalez says he’s determined to use the main event showcase to remind fans why he was once deemed WSOF’s top lightweight contender.

The 26-year-old opened his MMA career with seven consecutive knockout or submission wins. Since then, he’s won his past two fights by decision, which has helped him gain more experience, but ultimately is not how he wants to get the job done.

Gonzalez is determined to return to form at WSOF 12 and earn a victory inside the distance. Against an opponent of Palomino’s caliber, “Lethal” thinks that’s a perfectly realistic goal.

“I’m looking to get back to finishing fights,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think me or him are looking to go three, five minute rounds. That’s plenty of time to finish the fight. I could see myself finishing the fight in other ways. If he wants to stand and trade – I’ll catch him. I think I’m better on the ground. If I was a betting man I would say I beat him to the takedown and pound him out or choke him out.”

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